Electric Guitars
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History of the Electric Guitar
The first coil-wound pickup was designed and used by Lloyd Loar on a solid-body viola in the 1920s. Not long after,
electric guitars were invented during the 1930s out of the necessity to be
heard with the loud brass orchestras of the Big Band Era. In 1931,
the Electro String Company, now the Rickenbacker International Corporation, produced the "Frying Pan,"
a cast aluminum electric guitar. Several years later, the Gibson guitar company produced the first hollow-body electric guitar,
the ES-150 model. In 1951, Leo Fender introduced the
first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar, originally called a
Broadcaster. However, Gretsch produced a line of Broadkaster drums,
which forced Fender to change the name of its new guitar, resulting in the
Fender "Telecaster." With the further release of the Fender
Precision Bass and the Fender Stratocaster, electric guitars gained
popularity and continue to be high in demand by today's musicians.
Electric Guitar Pre-Purchase Considerations
Before buying an electric guitar, decide what kind of bridge and pickups you prefer. An electric guitar comes with a fixed bridge, a fulcrum bridge, or a floating bridge. As the name of the fixed variety indicates, this bridge is immovable and tends to stay in tune well. The latter two bridge varieties have a tremolo bar, which allows for interesting effects. However, the fulcrum bridge tends to cause the guitar to go out of tune, and the floating bridge is difficult to tune initially, as the position of the bridge depends on the tension of the six guitar strings.
Pickups come in two main varieties: single-coil pickups and dual-coil pickups (humbuckers). Single-coil pickups produce a brighter, clearer tone and have been around longer, but they often pick up hums or buzzes from lights, computers, or nearby electronic devices. A humbucker is basically a pair of single-coil pickups placed side by side and wired with opposite polarities. This setup causes the guitar pickup to "buck" the "hum," as extraneous sounds register on both pickups with equal amplitude, thus canceling themselves out. Humbuckers produce a rounder, fuller tone than single-coil pickups.
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Before you buy an electric guitar, plug the guitar into an amplifier, play a few songs, and test out the volume and tone controls and the pickups via the pickup selector switch. Keep in mind that the scale length, the distance between the nut and the saddle, will affect the ease of bending strings. Avoid guitars that produce static, buzzing, or crackling noises.
Electric Guitar Manufacturers
- Gibson
This electric guitar company offers the Epiphone, Kramer, and Steinberger Brands, as well as a range of custom, art, and historic guitars. - Fender
Manufacturer of famous Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. - Benedetto Guitars
Producer of jazz guitars. - Charvel Guitars and Basses
"The Original Hot Rod Guitar". - Gretsch Guitars
Founded in 1883, this company produces guitars with "That Great Gretsch Sound". - Guild
A Fender company offering several electric models. - Squier Guitars
A line of affordable electric guitars by Fender. - Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker's rich history reveals their guitars were owned and played by several Beatles. - Yamaha
Offers several series of electric guitars, including silent guitars, hollow bodies, and Yamaha's signature series. - Ibanez
This guitar company offers a broad selection of electric and acoustic guitars. - Peavey
Offers a broad range of musical equipment, including electric guitars and guitar amplifiers. - Godin Guitars
Canadian company offering electric guitar parts and several innovative series of guitars. - Carvin
This firm, founded in 1946, specializes in building and selling quality musical instruments. - ESP Guitars
Japanese electric guitar company offering hand-built custom guitars and the LTD brand. - Paul Reed Smith Guitars
A combination of machinery and human craftsmanship contributes to the quality of PRS guitars. - Anderson Guitars
A small American company that creates electric guitars with quality feel, play, and sound. - Ernie Ball
"If it feels right, I know it will sell" – Ernie Ball, music man. - Parker Guitars
Knowledge and research contribute to the sound of these wood guitars from Ken Parker. - Jay Turser Guitars and Basses
"Playing is believing". Company offers musical instruments, equipment, and accessories. - TV Jones
Hand-made electric guitars catering to the jazz, country, and rock music styles. - Heritage Guitar
This Michigan-based guitar maker was incorporated in 1985. Its products include solid body, semi-solid body, and hollow body electric guitars.
Related Guitar Websites
- Bass Guitars - four-string electric and acoustic guitars.
- Guitar Amplifiers - solid-state and tube-type guitar amps.